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Aegidius
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Aegidius
Aegidius (died 464 or 465) was the ruler of the short-lived Kingdom of Soissons from 461 to 464/465. Before his ascension he was an ardent supporter of the Western Roman emperor Majorian, who appointed him magister militum per Gallias ("Master of the Soldiers for Gaul") in 458. After the general Ricimer assassinated Majorian and replaced him with Emperor Libius Severus, Aegidius rebelled and began governing his Gallic territory as an independent kingdom. He may have pledged his allegiance to the Eastern Roman emperor Leo I.
Aegidius repeatedly threatened to invade Italy and dethrone Libius Severus, but never actually launched such an invasion; historians have suggested he was unwilling to launch an invasion due to the pressure of the Aquitanian Goths, or else because it would leave Gaul exposed. Aegidius launched several campaigns against the Visigoths and the Burgundians, recapturing Lyon from the Burgundians in 458, and routing the Visigoths at the Battle of Orleans. He died suddenly after a major victory against the Goths; ancient historians say that he was assassinated, but do not give the name of the assassin, whereas modern historians believe it is possible that he died a natural death.
After his death, he was succeeded by his son Syagrius, who was the last ruler of the Kingdom of Soissons.
Aegidius was born in Gaul, a province of the Western Roman Empire. It is believed that he came from the aristocratic Syagrii family, based upon the name of his son, Syagrius. While this evidence is not absolute, modern historians consider a connection to the family likely, by birth or marriage. Aegidius served under Aetius during the latter's time as magister militum (master of soldiers) of the Western Roman Empire. He also served alongside the future emperor Majorian.
Aegidius was either a founding member of Majorian and Ricimer's faction, or else he quickly joined it, wielding considerable influence with Majorian. After Majorian became Western Roman emperor, Aegidius was granted the title magister militum per Gallias in 458 as a reward for his loyalty.
The Ripuarian Franks conquered Cologne and Trier from the Romans c. 457, and Aegidius was besieged in Arles by the Goths of Aquitania under King Theodoric II for a time in 457/458, before Majorian defeated him. In the same year, Aegidius led troops at the Battle of Arelate against the Aquitanian Goths, where he is credited by ancient sources as being the primary cause for Theodoric II's defeat.
As a result of the battle, Theodoric II was forced to return Goth territory in Hispania to the Western Roman Empire and submit again to being a Roman vassal. Aegidius also recaptured Lyon from the Burgundians in 458.
After Ricimer assassinated Emperor Majorian in 461 and replaced him with Libius Severus, Aegidius refused to recognize the new emperor. Libius Severus was not recognized by the Eastern Roman Emperor Leo I, who was considered the senior emperor. Aegidius may have pledged his allegiance directly to Leo I in order to legitimize his independence from the Western Roman Empire, and his retention of the Gallic legions.
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Aegidius
Aegidius (died 464 or 465) was the ruler of the short-lived Kingdom of Soissons from 461 to 464/465. Before his ascension he was an ardent supporter of the Western Roman emperor Majorian, who appointed him magister militum per Gallias ("Master of the Soldiers for Gaul") in 458. After the general Ricimer assassinated Majorian and replaced him with Emperor Libius Severus, Aegidius rebelled and began governing his Gallic territory as an independent kingdom. He may have pledged his allegiance to the Eastern Roman emperor Leo I.
Aegidius repeatedly threatened to invade Italy and dethrone Libius Severus, but never actually launched such an invasion; historians have suggested he was unwilling to launch an invasion due to the pressure of the Aquitanian Goths, or else because it would leave Gaul exposed. Aegidius launched several campaigns against the Visigoths and the Burgundians, recapturing Lyon from the Burgundians in 458, and routing the Visigoths at the Battle of Orleans. He died suddenly after a major victory against the Goths; ancient historians say that he was assassinated, but do not give the name of the assassin, whereas modern historians believe it is possible that he died a natural death.
After his death, he was succeeded by his son Syagrius, who was the last ruler of the Kingdom of Soissons.
Aegidius was born in Gaul, a province of the Western Roman Empire. It is believed that he came from the aristocratic Syagrii family, based upon the name of his son, Syagrius. While this evidence is not absolute, modern historians consider a connection to the family likely, by birth or marriage. Aegidius served under Aetius during the latter's time as magister militum (master of soldiers) of the Western Roman Empire. He also served alongside the future emperor Majorian.
Aegidius was either a founding member of Majorian and Ricimer's faction, or else he quickly joined it, wielding considerable influence with Majorian. After Majorian became Western Roman emperor, Aegidius was granted the title magister militum per Gallias in 458 as a reward for his loyalty.
The Ripuarian Franks conquered Cologne and Trier from the Romans c. 457, and Aegidius was besieged in Arles by the Goths of Aquitania under King Theodoric II for a time in 457/458, before Majorian defeated him. In the same year, Aegidius led troops at the Battle of Arelate against the Aquitanian Goths, where he is credited by ancient sources as being the primary cause for Theodoric II's defeat.
As a result of the battle, Theodoric II was forced to return Goth territory in Hispania to the Western Roman Empire and submit again to being a Roman vassal. Aegidius also recaptured Lyon from the Burgundians in 458.
After Ricimer assassinated Emperor Majorian in 461 and replaced him with Libius Severus, Aegidius refused to recognize the new emperor. Libius Severus was not recognized by the Eastern Roman Emperor Leo I, who was considered the senior emperor. Aegidius may have pledged his allegiance directly to Leo I in order to legitimize his independence from the Western Roman Empire, and his retention of the Gallic legions.